Why do you accept such shit audio CDs ??

Subject: Why do you accept such shit audio CDs ??
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 13 Jan 18 - 10:57 PM

Why do folkies accept such shit audio quality CDs..???

I just settled in for late night music session.
Good CD system, and high quality headphones..

Been looking forward to listening to Lal & Norma Waterson "A True Hearted Girl" which I treated myself to for xmas..


Carefully tore off the shrinkwrap, settled back on the sofa..
..and the sound quality is terrible, it's riddled throughout with harsh distracting distortion.

Serious disappointment..!!!


This is Topic TSCD507 dated 1999.

A recent 2017 David Bowie boxset had a few seconds of volume fluctuation on one CD, which caused so much fan anger and protest
that Warners were forced to mail out thousands of remastered and corrected replacement discs.

Topic have had nearly 20 years to address the major issues on this CD...

We moaned so much about Bulmer's rip off dodgy CDRs,
But this official Topic release is much worse... WHY...!!!???

Subject: RE: Why do you accept such shit audio CDs ??
From: Howard Jones
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 05:57 AM

I can't discuss that particular CD, which I haven't heard and I know nothing of the circumstances of either the original recording or subsequent re-issue. Maybe the problems lie with the original recording, maybe Topic haven't received enough complaints to make them think about doing something about it. I think a folk audience is generally more interested in the music itself than recording quality, at least up to a point. Obviously artists and producers should aim to put out the best they can.

The economics of re-issuing a faulty Bowie album and a folk CD clearly don't compare.

However, as a generalisation, most folk CDs are made on a tight budget and in small studios which don't have all the bells and whistles of big commercial studios. That was even more true 40 years ago. Many will do well even to recover their costs. I think most purchasers understand this, in the same way that they don't demand flawless perfection from live performances, and are willing to live with it.

I accept that if there is a problem with a recording which jars on you it is only made worse on repeated listenings.

Subject: RE: Why do you accept such shit audio CDs ??
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 06:23 AM

It would be interesting to know if the original Watersons recording was as bad as the remaster. If the distortion is on the original (seems unlikely to me, knowing Topic), then I don't know how it would be got rid of. If on the remaster, then some cloth-eared engineer is probably to blame.

My mate Chris has just had his own songs recorded and put on to a CD master. It was done at a local, cheap studio (£30 per hour) and, when I heard the results, I commented that the guitar lacked bass and sounded thin, and that the echo on the vocals had taken away all intimacy and presence. I got Chris to speak to the engineer - a young chap - to take off the echo and redo the guitar EQ. The result was acceptable, but I have to say I've got better results using a pair of Zoom H2s.

Subject: RE: Why do you accept such shit audio CDs ??
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 06:55 AM

And, why do we accept such short CDs?? The Transports CD is just over 79 minutes long!!!!!

Subject: RE: Why do you accept such shit audio CDs ??
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 06:56 AM

Seems the original recording came out as an LP in 1977: another reviewer of the CD version has described it thus:
"I am a great admirer of the Watersons, of Lal Waterson and Norma Waterson, so perhaps I was expecting too much from this record which was released on Topic in 1977, and probably accurately reflects Topic's somewhat minimalist approach of the time i.e limited simple musical accompaniment, and a short playing time." Notwithstanding that, he or she has sy till given it 4 stars!

Subject: RE: Why do you accept such shit audio CDs ??
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 07:32 AM

Watersons - shorter the better, can’t stand them.

Subject: RE: Why do you accept such shit audio CDs ??
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 12:40 PM

Why complain about it here ? Send it back to Topic, stating your complaint, and demand your money back [ plus the cost of P&P ]. Please let us know how it turns out.

Subject: RE: Why do you accept such shit audio CDs ??
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 01:08 PM

GUEST,kenny - because this is a forum where folks talk about shared interests...

Why shouldn't I...???

Subject: RE: Why do you accept such shit audio CDs ??
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 03:40 PM

q1 Why?
generally more interested in the music itself than recording quality, at least up to a point.
me too.

It wouldn't do any arm to write to Topic.
I'd be interested to hear the reply(not interested enough to do the writing though).

I just listened to it on Spotify.
I noticed a few clicks and the odd harsh bit but it was about what I'd expected. (Most LPs I heard in 1977 had beer splashed on them and the Dansette portable turntable usually had a couple of twopence pieced cello taped to the arm to keep it on the record.). Spotify probably loses quality, I don't know and I accept it as it comes.

Subject: RE: Why do you accept such shit audio CDs ??
From: Gurney
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 08:30 PM

I've had a couple of self-recorded CDs (NOT copies) that were rubbish in the longer term. One of them had the silver recording surface peel off!

My own efforts at recording LPs-to-CD has been somewhat spotty, with the odd CD having strange stammers and noises. Perhaps 1 in 30 initially, but by the time it has been played 30 times, perhaps 1 in 15? Using Verbatim discs by recommendation on this site.

I've only had one issued CD that was bad. Perhaps the pros use more powerful lasers or better discs.

Subject: RE: Why do you accept such shit audio CDs ??
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 15 Jan 18 - 04:58 AM

OK - let me put the answer another way -

"Why do folkies accept such shit audio quality CDs..??"

Because people whinge about it on a website rather than contact the company who made it, tell them their product is "shit" and demand either a replacement copy, or their money back.
I don't have any objection to you raising it here as a discussion point - it might well warn some people off from buying the "shit" quality CD in question, but raising the issue here is not on its' own going to improve the situation. You either do something about it yourself, or let them get away with it. The question is " Why do YOU accept such shit audio CDs ?"

Subject: RE: Why do you accept such shit audio CDs ??
From: GUEST,RA
Date: 15 Jan 18 - 06:29 AM

How old is the CD edition of 'A True Hearted Girl', punkfolkrocker? Maybe it's just a bit old... I have some CDs from, say, 20 or 25 years ago which don't really work any more, whether they've been played or not. I always assumed it was just age-related degradation (happens to us all, I suppose).

Subject: RE: Why do you accept such shit audio CDs ??
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 15 Jan 18 - 08:24 AM

There is no excuse, I downloaded a Cream collection of unreased recordings from final US tour in 1968 - superb stereo cd quality!!!!!

Subject: RE: Why do you accept such shit audio CDs ??
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 15 Jan 18 - 09:02 AM

calm down kenny.. you seem to be getting a bit overheated on this matter..

It's only Monday morning, who knows yet what I do or do not intend doing...


Suffice to say i was bloody disappointed, I'd been looking forward to enjoying that CD.
The singing and arangements are excellent, my favourite kind of folk music...
But the listening experience was ruined by harsh distortions in the frequency range of the femal vocals..
Not an insignificant problem on a Lal & Norma CD...!!!!!

Subject: RE: Why do you accept such shit audio CDs ??
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jan 18 - 09:44 AM

I had a Stanley Accrington CD off the man himself that I found, when I removed it from the case, was see through! I asked Stan about it next time I saw him and he said he would replace it and gave me a chocolate coin as compensation :-) I have never bother replacing it - It is bizarre enough to warrant keeping :-D

DtG

Subject: RE: Why do you accept such shit audio CDs ??
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 15 Jan 18 - 03:40 PM

See-through? At least you got something! One fairly famous folk duo up here sold loads of "CDs" at a gig, beautifully shrink-wrapped, lovely artwork, track listing and credits.......but no CD! I will not "name and shame" as the FF duo did their bit to make sure everyone who had purchased said item actually got a playable CD! Would have loved to be a fly on the wall when they spoke to their CD producers!

And pfr has already said that his CD was engineered in 1999 (from the original album in 1977), but maybe not even to 1999 capabilities?

Subject: RE: Why do you accept such shit audio CDs ??
From: Hagman
Date: 15 Jan 18 - 09:16 PM

“And, why do we accept such short CDs?? The Transports CD is just over 79 minutes long!!!!!”

I agree, Bonz. That Bellamy was too lazy to write an extra 50 secs.....